How health technology helps promote cardiovascular health outcomes

Health technology in the hands of cardiac patients — helpful, hindrance, or hesitate to say?

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of death and hospital admissions in Australia.1 Almost a third of patients will have a recurrence such as myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, heart failure and death within 5 years.2 Reductions of at least 80% in these events can be achieved through secondary prevention behaviours, including taking cardioprotective medications as prescribed, ceasing smoking, increasing physical activity and consuming a healthy diet.3 The most comprehensive and proven of strategies to support secondary prevention is cardiac rehabilitation. This is an evidence-based, cost-effective method to reduce CVD deaths, assist recovery and promote secondary prevention through reduction of cardiovascular risk factors.